davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

The mortar boat got its name from the gun
it carried First heavy wooden float was
built Upon it were erected very thick
wooden walls. These sloped inward and were
about eight feet high. They were plated with
heavy iron. Inside was single heavy NOR
tar. with ammunition below the water line
There was also tent for the gunners within
the walls.
These mortar boats were considered for
midable twenty five years ago. But such Is
the improvement made since then in destruc-
tive warfare that one shot from e n mod
crate sized gun of the kind now made would
knock an old fashioned mortar boat into
flinders.
One youthful Confederate gunner dis
tinguished himself calamity at the lower
water battery at Fort Donelson. While
Foote's gunhoats were peppering the batter
les To the right and left, this youth, John G.
Frcqua, stood perfectly straight at his gun,
taking aim and firing as coolly as if he had
been squirrel hunting.
"Now, boys said he, see NE take chin
ney."
He aimed at the smokestack of an aivanc-
ing gunboat 1t fell, carrying with it the
flag. FreGua threw hi. cap in the air, yelling
defiaptiy
Again the nervy boy took aim, clear and
straight, Shortly he sent ball directly
through portfolio. and then the gunboat fell
back disabled The portfolios of the boats
were quite large
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

Two 32-pounders and one rifled cannon which
carried a conical ball Of 1913 pounds. The
water batteries were built by Lieut. Col. J.
F. Gilmer, chief engineer of the western de
partment of the Confederate army. They
were constructed after the fall of Fort Henry.
As soon as that point was captured the whole
available Confederate force in that region
was concentrated at Donelson.
The line of batteries was extended so as to
take in Dover, where stores of food and am
munition were In and out, through salient
and re-entrant angle, for two miles and
half, the tracery of earthworks and guns
went.
Besides that, tho Notifications were pro
tected with bristhng abatis. Itwas q wooded
region, full of "black jack oak and other
woods. The scrub oaks were felled, their
branches shcrpened at the point and these
and the trees were fastened upon the ground
sharpcned points outward, in what seemed
an impenctrable abatis. To set at Fort Don
eIson the Union troops were obliged to so up
hill over these sharpcncd points Ill the lace oil
marksmen whose aim was yet sharper.
On the east, the river protected the works
Such were the defenses of Donelson.
Lieut. Col. Gilmer saws that the effective
fighting force within the fort was l5,oo
Up to the time the siege began it was com
manded by Gen BushrOd r. johnson. He
was REINFORCED successfully by Gems. Pillow,
Clarke, FLOYD and Buckner, with several
thousand men each Gen. J. B. Floyd was
the officer highest in rank and had command.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

in profound thought All at once a Light
broke over the commanders face, and then
all was serene again Of this moment he
told Gen. Sherman afterward:
Il saw that either side was ready to give up
if the other showed bold front, and deter
mined TO do that very thing"
So the commander became strong and
serene again, as usual Instantly there was
activity. Gen. c. F. Smiths forces on the
right of the Federal line had not vet
taken part in the fight They were ordered
up. Gen. Smith himself, with long, gray hair,
a color bearer by his side, rode along the front
Of his line, q striking, inspiring figure He
told his men he himself would lead them, and
directed them when near enough to charge
bayonet on the rife pits. The signal was
given, the column moved forward and WAS
met by roar Of musketry from the rifle
pits.
Col. futile was in the lead with his Second
Iowa regiment The advancing line wavered
a moment under the fire that moved it down.
then steadied and went irresistibly on When
within range of the Confederate muskets Col.
Tuttle shouted to his men. "Forwarll- Then
they made the rafting bayonet charge 1t
drove the Confederates from their works and
Smiths men occupied them. In the midst of
cheers and shouts from the whole division the
Stars and Stripes were planted upon the
works of Fort Donelson. Thus it was all
over with the Confederate right.
Over on the Federal right Netherlands di-
vision had been swept from the ground it oc-
cupied in the morning Although Lew Wal
laces men had checked the retreat there and
stopped the sortie, yet the ground held by
Mel leInand in the morning had not been re
taken. Grant ordered Lew Wallace tn retaSe
it. As soon as Gen Smiths division began TO
move, Wallace was to attack too. Thus the
Confeierates would be engaged ON both right
and left Grant rode down the river to sec
that Smith was carrying ont the order OF his
side; then he hurried upto the right to watch
Wallace's men execute their command
1T noon il looked as if victory was perched
on the Confederate standard The Wvm's
Ferry road, which had been occupied bv Nc
CleInand, was open for the Confederate re
treat. Buckner had accomplished what h.
had been ordered TO do The time inst before
Grant ordered the renewed attack in the af
telnoon had been the golden moment for es-
cape. 1t was lost. Buckner had halted, wait
ing for his artillery and reserves to follow nina
out of the intrenchments Pillow had teic-
graphed A. s Johnston: "On the honor Of u
soldier, the day is ours. -"
All at once Gen Pillow sent DuCkner word
10 come back and take up his position within
the works. He could only obey As he fell
back with his men he met Gen. Floyd Floyd
was surprised, and asked what he was about
He ordered Buckner TO stay where he was till
he, Floyd, could see Pillow Thus there Wa
more waiting. Finally Buckner. the fighting
general, was oNiere. to cross to the extreme
Confederate right and stop Gen. Smith, who
was storming the works
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
WHERE WAS GRANT?

1t may have occurred to the reader that the
name of the general commanding, the boss
so to speak, of them all, has not been
mentioned. In the naval fight ON the l4th,
Commander Foote had been severely
wounded He sent message 10 Gen Grant
that as he, Footc, was severely wounded, the
general might perhaps come and see him, and
hold u council on board the flag ship st Louis
Grant did so, starting early on Saturday
morning. After this consultation Foote started
back to Cairo for mortar boats.
The fleet lay several miles down the river
and Grant did not get back till about !
o'clock. The sound of cannonadng that
pierced through the woods gave no idea of
the seriousness of the situation
The commander immediately rode from one
point to another inspecting matters. His
first thought, when he saw his battered bat
talions was to fall back on the defensive and
wait till Foote came back with fleet and re
endorsements. At 5 o'clock in the after
noon he called M'Clernand ard Wallace to-
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
FOUR DAYS, FIGHTING

To tell the truth, army officers do not
always write the clearest English, not even,
alas regular army officers.
1t is difficult, therefore, for the historian to
gather from the colonies and brigadier gener-
ais reports, just how battle was fought and
how and where the troops stood. Grants re
ports and orders, what there are of them, are
models of clcarness, brevity and simplicity.
From them we gain more clear headed knowl-
edge than from most of the rest
Immediately on the fall of Fort Henry,
Gen Halleclt began forwarding fresh troops
and supplies as fast as possible for the reduc-
ton of Dcnelson. Boys, on whose cheeks the
rose had not yet given place to tan, regiments,
as Judge Force says, $50 freshly formed that
they had hardly changed their civil garb for
soldiers uniform were hurried to the front
to help out Grant al Donelson
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

The Carondelet is good illustration of the
old-fashioned gunboat " was the first to
arrive on the morning of Thursday, Feb. Is.
1t opened fire 1t NAV be mentioned that the
old Carondelet, with the same commander,
Capt. Wake, was also the first to afterward
pass down the river under the batteries at
Nicksburg
The rest of Foote's fleet with the trans
ports. containing six regiments of soldiers,
arrived Thursday evening. Friday morning
the Presbyterian flag officer opened fire from
his feet of six gunboats, four ironclads and
two wooden ones There was severe fight
of an hour and half. which did not result in
q brilliant success for the fleet The boats
engaged were the ironclads st Louis Caron-
delet. Louisville and Pittshurg, and the
wooden boats Tyler and Cohestoga. Four of
the boats were disabled The first fire from
the Carondelet had disabled one of the
:592-puunders in the water batteries. The
same shot instantly killed Lieut. Joseph
Dixon. a brave Confederate officer and the
accomplished local engineer who had assisted
i'll preparing the defenses of Donelson. That
was about the only damage apparently done
by the fleet Then Commander Foote drew
off the remains of it and dropped down ont
Of range
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

Along these two roads the men marched,
starting the morning of Feb. 10. The First
and Second divisions moved forward. The
First division was commanded by Gen John
A. McClernand, the Second by Gen. c. F.
Smith. They moved forward, Netherlands
division by the right hand or southerly road,
Smiths by the northeriy or left hand road.
They came together two and one-half miles
from Donelson. Netherlands forces took
the right wing south of DoneIson, Smiths the
left wing north of Donelson Later word
was sent to Gen. Lew Wallace, who had re
NAMED at Fort Henry, to bring up the Third
division He arrived on the 18th friday
and took position with his division in the
center
Thus the Federal forces invested Donelson
in form of Il crescent A diagram of their
position would show them as follows:
Smiths division
Wallace's division ponelson.
Netherlands division.
There was some skirnishing on the evening
of the 12th between the pickcts of the two
armies. On the 18th the battle began i'll
earnest. Col VIM r. Morrison, of the
Forty-ninth regiment of Illinois Volunteers
had charge of brigade that day in McCler-
nand's division. His brigade had some of the
toughest work of the whole Donelson fight
Their work was to assault Maney's battery,
on the Confederate left, at once the most con-
spicuous and inaccessible of the entire line of
works. They started to climb up hill over
the tangled and terrible "black jack abatis
A double fire of battery and infantry raked
them fore and aft. Once they fell back, and
We're REINFORCED Four regiments started up
the hill a second time. They were met with
hotter fire than before. Shrapnel and rife
balls few into their teeth thick as hail They
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
THE PREPARATION.

Turn to your map. You will see that the
Tennessee and Cumberland rivers run through
the state of Kentucky side and side, like twin
sisters. They empty into the Ohio not far
apart. They come near together first inside
the Tennessee line. ard flow through that
state close beside each other The Tennes-
Sec forms part of the boundary between the
two states for some distance. On the Ten
nessee side, Just opposite where the corner Of
Kentucky begins, was Fort Henry. Twelve
miles across from it, slightly north of east,
was Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland.
Henry wss on the right bank of the Tennes-
sec, while Donelson was on the left bank of
the Cumberland.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
FOOTE'S FLOTILlA.

The Union gunboats had done great service
at Henry. At Doneison the fleet did not dis
tinguish itself greatly, except by conveying
transports containing troops.
While Grant. with 1900 men, plowed
across the mud sea between Henry and Donei-
son by land he sent Foote with six gunboats
around by water. They were obliged to go
down the Tennessee and up the Ohio a short
distance to the mouth of the Cumberland to
Fort Donelson. Foote had TO make circuit
of tSn miles tn OF twelve
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
THE GRAND SORTIE

In the Confederate council the night of the
18th it was determined that the force in the
fort should attempt to cut its way out on the
Federal right through McClernands division
Driving this division back, it was to be made
to roll over upon Walace's division in the
center, thus leaving the Wynn's Ferry road
clear BY that road the Confederates were
to escape to Charlotte, Tenn. Pillow, with
infantry and cavalry, was to make the attack
on the Federal extreme right, near the river
Buckner was TO follow Immediately after,
and do for Lew Wallace's division in the
center
That trae no
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

soIdierIy figure and strong, fine face of GefI.
Bucl1ner.
In preparing the story of Doneson, materials
have been gathered from many sources but espe-
cially from Official documents published by the
United States government from Judge Forces
War in America, old flies of The New York Trib-
une and Harper s Pictorial History of the War.
1ha Illustrations ere chiefiy from Mr. Lossinss
history
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
FORT DoNELsON.
Twenty-ffth Anniversary of the
Great Siege.
THE STORY TOLD ONCE MORE
When, Where and How the Famous
Battle Was Fought.

Men Who Aftcrward Became Distin-
Suished Tha, Took Part in It-Politi-
cal Leaders, Senators, Governors and
Presidents That Were to Ec-"Either
Side Ready TO Give Up'-From Henry
to DoncIson-Thc Sortic That Failed.
Blue and Gray.
Once again the young people gather around
and listen while veteran lips tell the story of
Fort Donelson. That story was made twenty
five years ago this February
The writers and raconteurs have preserved
the history more faithfully than the map
makers have. Neither Fort Henry nor Fort
Donelson is marked upon the newest aliases
Nature herself has not obliterated their traces
so speedily, The trees Yet stand as Scared
veterans of the mighty fight Bullet mark,
stump and broken limb are yet to be seen
when i'll winter they are unclad of kindly
leaf and vine
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

Feb IL, 1862, the general order was given
Grants men to march from Henry to Donel-
son. There were two roads; one, the Wynn's
Ferry road, leading to Dover south Of Fort
Donelson, the othoF north of 1t some dis
tance. The two came together not far from
the fort. the northern road leading directly
to the fort.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
-Hc pEFENsEs OF FORT DoNELsoN.

The bluff upon which Donelson stood was
100 feet high Tho fort itself was what was
called in military Language Fashioned earth
work, with angles like star points projecting
from the main Enclosure outward, and pro-
tected by walls of heavy earthworks. 1t was
SO situated that its guns commanded the river
nsf far as they could carry, Two water bat
teries were erected on the slope of the bluff
toward the river, The larger battery was
the ono nearest the shore. It had for arma-
nient l0.inch Columhiad and aine 32-pound
Guns. The upper battery was supplied with
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

400 Doses One Dollar" is true only of
Hoods Sarsaparilla, and it is an unan-
sweratle argument as to strength and
economy.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

gether for counsel TWAS held with all three
generals on horseback. Grant seemed ex.
cited, and es nearly aeryousas Grnnt could DO.
His face WIS very serious, almost overcast.
BE held hanatul Of dispatches and seemed
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08
REAL ESTATE COLUMN,
SALE AND EXCHANGE.

Illinois.
MEDILh & WAITEHEAD.
no EXCHANG E-16O acres first-class farming
i land in Kansas; fine soil. VIII trade for stock
or unmproyed property
MEDIIr. & WHITEHEAD.
no EXCHANG ESQ acres unimproved; will
L trade for city or country property. Land To-
Gated miles from good town on Sante Fe road in
Kansas.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
TOR sALE-Any piece in following list can be
I had AT a bargain, if taken soon:
Rock ISLAND CO.
Swi--24, H. LOO acres.
PIT. seI-24, II, 1-95 acres.
HENRY COUNTY
Sw4 -22. II, loo acres.
Ne cor. Cd sel-2i, II, 10 acres.
Ed ne 10, u, so acres.
Nj, II, $50 acres.
MERCER COUNTY
E8 II Is. 1--240 acres.
Ell self IS, + So acres.
NJ ne4 20, 10. $50 acres
Swt Sells, Is. 40 acres
Swt NV II, Is, 40 acres
Prices on the above are cut; will give
long time and make thu interest low.
MEpLL " WHITEHEAD
TOR SALE 10 &C. = farm five miles south OF
J. Milan, well improved, large barn and house,
cheap; terms ~ suit.
MEpILL Il WHITEHEAD
TOR SALE-sO acres SO mile. south of Milan:
I a good orchard. Twin. water. house baTnE.
sheds and cribs. 80 per acre.
MEDmL Il WHITEHEAD.
DOE SALE 100 acres five miles south of Milan;
[ splendid improvements.
MEpILL & WHITEHEAD.
TOR SALE-a1la acres-fne fruit farm, a mon
L eymskiny property.
MEDnL & WHITEHEAD.
TOR IRADE-Good Hotel property in Cam
L bridge, III. Want farm in Rock Island Of
Henry county.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
E,lR TRApF-Srfck store and dwelling in Mo.
iine-want farm in Rock leland or Henry Go.
MEDILL II WHITEHEAD.
DOCK ISLAND City lols, cheap; small cash pay
II ment balance on long time.
MEDILL Il WHITEHEAD.
L Il TRADE 100 acres Kau7aa land for stock
huggies, horses or genera merchandise.
MEDUL Il WHITEHEAD.
TO toAN-s0nto 81 l,ea0 to loan on farm prop
/ Ctty. prlvil sc 10 make small payments, thus
decreasing principal, 10 delay; loI e closed at
oUHe.
MEDILL Il WHITEHEAp
DOR Sal f On long time and monthly pay
L meuts. two choice pieces Of isui in Hojgtmap
county, Kansas, 100 acres in each traet-a rare
chance
MEDiLL Il WHITEHEAD.
CnR sALE-A number q choice fsrms in Rock
Island. Henry OF Mercer counties. III, If you
want farm, cali.
MEDrLL & WHITEHEAD.
DOR SaI.E-Two fnc farms III Crawford Co.
I Iowa. so aud SIS per acre, splendid improve
mcnts; less than one mile from town; wcllwOTth
au examination.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
ResI Estate loans at low rates; loans closed
without delay.
WESTERN LANps-Wc can sell land on smaller
payments and longer time than any firm in the
state.
Iowa LANps-Choicr tracts ut land in well Sc
tied communities. $ 40 To s. 81 per scre
We have a large lis nf Lands and city property
for sale or exchange.
MEDILL,& WHITEHEAD
Posi- OFFICE BLOCK,
ROCK ISLAND
Telephone No tlSn
RASMUSSEN
Would respectfully suggest that any
one desiring
Photographs
Holiday Gifts,
will find 1t
To THEIR ADVANTAGE
to make an appointment at an early day
AICTInN AMI TOMMISSInN
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

DOR SALE-alla acres-fne fruit farm, mon
L ey-makiny property.
MEDILB & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

show cannot 60 on until i . taken on. economy
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-08

DOCK ISLAND City lols, cheap; small cash pay
II ment balance on long time.
MEDILL Il WHITEHEAD.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-29

Just received at the Postofice Book
store, a fine assortment of fresh garden
seeds, flower seeds, grass seeds, etc.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-29
mrs. l.. Brien,

Fashionable dressmaker. just from the
East. Opposite Mrs. Plumhoff's resi-
ence. n
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-29

Baltimore American: Sullivan's grit
pales into insigni6cance when compared
with that of Ned Harrigan's, a Delaware
pugilist, who, after breaking his right
hand in the fourth round, fought the
mill to the finish. 1t lasted through AZ
rounds. How different it would be,
however, with these bruisers if they in
jured themselves while doing an honest
days labor. Without any hesitation,
they would knock off Immediately, even
though delay might cause considerable
loss.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-29
notice OF FORFEITURE.

ITO JERRY CAUGHLIN, Co.owNER: YOU
L are hereby notified that the undersigned
has expended the sum OF two hundred dollars
In labor and improvements, upon the Zero lode.
situated on the west side of Prospect Noun.
tain. Eureka county, State Of Nevada, during
the years 1885 and 1885. in conformity with the
provisions of Section 1924 Revised Statutes of
the United States, being the amount required
10 hold the same. And II within ninety DAYS
after this notice by publication you fail or re.
fuse 70 contribute your proportion OF such ex-
penditnre as co owner. your interest in such
claim will become the property OF the SUBJ
scriber, under said Section 1924,
JOHN MCNAUGHTON.
Eureka. Nevada. March IL, 1887. mhl2-9od
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-29

Pittsburg Chronicle: The discovery
of a method for smelling and purifying
silver ore with natural gas may be of
more Importance than would at first
thought appear probable. 1t may con-
ccntrate here the silver refining bust
ness, and thus give us an entirely new
and very profitable and important in
dustry. The process is said to be much
c heaper than the one now in general use,
but whether the difference will be great
enough to Offset the heavy charges for
transporting the ore to Pittsburg is the
important question. The inventor is
sanguine tina. it will. We know but the
beginning of the possibilities of our new
fuel.
Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-03-29

NnEzcan live at home, and make more
money at work Tor us. than anything
else IN this world. Capital not
needed; you are started free. Both
sexes al ages. Any one eau do the work.
Large earnings sure from first start. Costly
outnt and terms free. Better not delay. Costs
you nothing to send us your address and ndh
HALLErr & Co.. Portland, Maine.